Week 15 55 & 5: The RB Rankings

1. Jamaal Charles
2. Matt Forte
3. LeSean McCoy
4. Marshawn Lynch
5. Knowshon Moreno
6. Shane Vereen
7. Eddie Lacy*
8. Reggie Bush*
9. DeMarco Murray
10. Alfred Morris
11. Steven Jackson
12. C.J. Spiller
13. Zac Stacy
14. Danny Woodhead
15. Andre Brown
16. Le'Veon Bell
17. Fred Jackson
18. Toby Gerhart*
19. Rashad Jennings
20. Maurice Jones-Drew*
21. Andre Ellington
22. Chris Johnson
23. Frank Gore
24. Giovani Bernard
25. Pierre Thomas
26. Bobby Rainey
27. Ryan Mathews
28. Darren Sproles
29. Ray Rice
30. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
31. Ben Tate
32. Montee Ball
33. Joique Bell
34. Chris Ivory
35. Stevan Ridley
36. Chris Ogbonnaya
37. Rashard Mendenhall
38. Donald Brown
39. Jordan Todman
40. Marcel Reece
41. Lamar Miller
42. Jacquizz Rodgers
43. DeAngelo Williams
44. Mike Tolbert
45. Shonn Greene
46. Trent Richardson
47. James Starks
48. Daniel Thomas
49. Benny Cunningham
50. Peyton Hillis
51. Jonathan Stewart
52. Knile Davis
53. Michael Bush
54. Joseph Randle
55. Bernard Pierce

#6 Shane Vereen - (#10 on Fantasy Pros Consensus Rankings)
Without Gronk last week, Vereen was the target with the game on the line. He is a must start this week and should put up big numbers again.

#8 Reggie Bush - (#16 on Fantasy Pros)
If Reggie Bush is in, you are starting him and not thinking twice about it. He loves the home matchups. Baltimore is vulnerable to pass-catching RBs. I expect a typical 100 total yard and a TD day for Bush if he plays.

#9 DeMarco Murray - (#4 on Fantasy Pros)
If you have Murray you are almost certainly starting him. But I don't see this as a fantastic matchup like many do. Its a worse matchup than last week, and while Murray did very well, I wouldn't expect much more than 100 yards here. Anything on top of that is icing on the cake.

#11 Steven Jackson - (#14 on Fantasy Pros)
Am I crazy here? Maybe. But Steven Jackson has looked solid lately. Over the past three weeks he has had at least 80 total yards in each game as well as three touchdowns. This matchup is the best yet. For an aging Steven Jackson this may end up being his last great game. We'll have to see how it plays out.


#12 C.J. Spiller - (#23 on Fantasy Pros)
I am back on my C.J. Spiller love train! The Jags have been a shutdown defense lately, but I have a really good feeling about C.J. Spiller this week. If the Bills are going to win, they need to get their run game going this week, that was proven last week. Fred Jackson does the dirty work, the short yard gains and all that. But Spiller lights it up and I strongly believe the Jags are a great defense to get a 50 yard+ carry. Thats all it takes for the man.

#13 Zac Stacy - (#8 on Fantasy Pros)
Another somewhat tough matchup for Stacy. He got a touchdown last week but not much else. In addition, his role in the passing game has been shut down. He has 4 catches for -4 yards over the past 2 weeks. He is a decent shot for a touchdown, but anything over 60-70 yards here would be a success.

#14 Danny Woodhead - (#30 on Fantasy Pros)
Woodhead is coming off a 90 yard game with a TD. I cannot imagine why people would rank him so far down. The Broncos have given up 5 rec. TDs to running backs on the season. Woodhead is more likely than any other RB out there to add to that list. I expect a big passing game, and Woodhead will be integral to that.

Quick thoughts...I'd really like to avoid playing Andre Brown if it can be helped. I expect the Giants to fall behind quickly, eliminating much of the running game. Assuming Toby Gerhart plays, he is a decent flex. He performed admirably after Peterson went down last week. As much as I like Spiller, I also feel like Andre Ellington has a great chance for a big run as well. I love the upside and I would play him over Chris Johnson who faces the Cards - the #1 fantasy D vs RBs. Its not a bad matchup for Bobby Rainey but I'm not high on him. After his 80 yard run, Rainey struggled heavily last week. If you're desperate, take a flier on Stevan Ridley if he got dropped. I think he comes back as the main rusher for NE, not that it means too much right now. Jordan Todman is another one worth adding. He would be good if MJD is ruled out.